Lancia Thema

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Lancia

Lancia Thema

1984 - 1994
Country:
Italy
Engine:
4L/V6/TurboDiesel
Capacity:
1995/2849/2445cc
Power:
74-202 bhp
Transmission:
5 spd. man
Top Speed:
240 km/h (see table)
Number Built:
135,700
Collectability:
1 star
During the mid-1980's the Fiat group began to rationalise it chassis/platforms so that the same body could be used on different Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Lancia models.

The Pininfarina designed Thema, which replaced the Gamma, was the first of the Fiat group models to pioneer the new platform, sharing it with the Fiat Croma. As was to be expected the Lancia version sat at the top of the new range, with a sporty Alfa Romeo version just below it.

The Fiat group needed the Thema to be successful, particularly in the UK market where the Lancia Beta had suffered extremely poor press, due mainly to the perceived rust problems and subsequent safety issues. There was no doubting the Italian cars of that era did suffer from rust more than most others, but the drubbing in the press was a little over the top.

Lancia gambled on a media campaign that included two page advertisments in many high-brow publications. Just one such advertisement stated the following..."We have to admit it, we love being first. 25 years ago we built the first Italian car with front wheel drive. Independent suspension was one of our ideas: integral body construction another. Now we're keeping up the tradition with a totally new driving experience. The Lancia Thema".

"Never before has one car offered you so much sporting brio couched in so much sedan comfort. Inside, it's big, plush and superbly appointed. While under the bonned lurks a 4-cylinder turbo charged 165 HP engine. It has an intercooler and overboost protection derived from formula one engines. It can hit 0-100 kph in just 7.2 seconds and achieve a top speed of 218 kph. But you'd never think it."

"The engine purrs along softly. Beautifully balanced on counter-rotating shafts. For the family-man Fangios out there, we've even produced a 6-cylinder V-engine (the sort that power-housed our Lancias round the Mille Miglia back in the 50's). We've got a turbodiesel model by far the fastest one of its type. And a 2000 with electronic fuel injection that ranks with the best in Europe today. The Themas incorporate a wealth of new thinking and advanced technology. What better way of keeping yourself ahead?"

As mentioned in the advertising blurb above, the Thema came with a choice of either a 1995cc four cylinder (petrol), 2849cc V6 or a 2445cc Turbo Diesel. To counter the "rusting chassis" issues, the Thema used a galvanized steel chassis and rust protection that equaled or bettered that of its competitors. Build quality was higher than the Fiat Croma's and on par with the Saab 9000's. The sales organisation, however, was poor in many markets and secondhand values for the car suffered.

Production of the Thema ceased in 1994 when Lancia withdrew from right-hand drive markets (including the United Kingdom) in response to dwindling popularity and sales. (The station wagon version was never offered in right-hand drive.) Lancia continued, however, to be one of the most popular manufacturers in the Italian market and the Thema's replacement, the Lancia Kappa, sold well.
Model
cc
Power
Torque
Years
Top Speed
0-100
2.0 8V
1995
120 PS (118 hp/88 kW) @5250 rpm
170 Nm (125 lb·ft) @3300 rpm
1985-1989
195 km/h / 121 mph
9.7
2.0 8V
1995
116 PS (114 hp/85 kW) @5600 rpm
162 Nm (119 lb·ft) @4000 rpm
1987-1989
191 km/h / 119 mph
10.4
2.0 8V
1995
116 PS (114 hp/85 kW) @5600 rpm
162 Nm (119 lb·ft) @4000 rpm
1989-1995
195 km/h / 121 mph
11.4
2.0 16V
1995
146 PS (144 hp/107 kW) @6000 rpm
173 Nm (128 lb·ft) @4000 rpm
1989-1992
202 km/h / 126 mph
10.4
2.0 16V
1995
155 PS (153 hp/114 kW) @6500 rpm
181 Nm (133 lb·ft) @3500 rpm
1992-1995
205 km/h / 127 mph
10.1
2.0 Turbo 8V
1995
166 PS (164 hp/122 kW) @5500 rpm
290 Nm (214 lb·ft) @2750 rpm
1985-1988
218 km/h / 135 mph
7.2
2.0 Turbo 8V
1995
150 PS (148 hp/110 kW) @5500 rpm
245 Nm (181 lb·ft) @2700 rpm
1988-1989
210 km/h / 130 mph
7.9
2.0 Turbo 16V
1995
180 PS (178 hp/132 kW) @5500 rpm
270 Nm (199 lb·ft) @2500 rpm
1989-1992
222 km/h / 138 mph
8.0
2.0 Turbo 16V
1995
205 PS (202 hp/151 kW) @5750 rpm
304 Nm (224 lb·ft) @3750 rpm
1992-1995
230 km/h / 143 mph
7.2
2.9 V6 12V
2849
150 PS (148 hp/110 kW) @5250 rpm
245 Nm (181 lb·ft) @2700 rpm
1985-1989
208 km/h / 129 mph
8.2
2.9 V6 12V
2849
150 PS (148 hp/110 kW) @5000 rpm
225 Nm (166 lb·ft) @3500 rpm
1989-1992
205 km/h / 127 mph
8.4
3.0 V6 12V
2959
175 PS (173 hp/129 kW) @5500 rpm
250 Nm (184 lb·ft) @4500 rpm
1992-1995
220 km/h / 137 mph
8.1
3.0 V8 32V
2927
215 PS (212 hp/158 kW) @6750 rpm
285 Nm (210 lb·ft) @4500 rpm
1987-1989
240 km/h / 149 mph
6.8
3.0 V8 32V
2927
205 PS (202 hp/151 kW) @6750 rpm
263 Nm (194 lb·ft) @5000 rpm
1989-1992
235 km/h / 146 mph
6.8
2.5 TD
2445
101 PS (100 hp/74 kW) @4100 rpm
217 Nm (160 lb·ft) @2300 rpm
1985-1989
185 km/h / 115 mph
11.9
2.5 TD
2499
118 PS (116 hp/87 kW) @3900 rpm
245 Nm (181 lb·ft) @2200 rpm
1989-1992
195 km/h / 121 mph
11.0
2.5 TD
2499
118 PS (116 hp/87 kW) @4100 rpm
245 Nm (181 lb·ft) @2400 rpm
1992-1995
195 km/h / 121 mph
11.5
Lancia Thema

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